Which 400 film?

[arnulf]

Hi everybody

I'm rather new here. Have been shooting mainly digital Nikon until last year when I bought a Bessa, and later got a good deal on an M6. After that I've been doing more and more film, but almost exclusively B/W. I now feel like giving the colors a try as well. Too bad to have such a great camera without trying out as much as possible with it. I need some advice as to what film to choose. 400 ISO is what I've been using in B/W and feel quite comfortable with that. I'm open for both slides and paper.

For instance, what is people's experience with the Kodak Porta films? Any good? And what about the Fuji films? If someone knows about web sites with comparition shots or something, that would be nice.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Arnulf

 

[oscroft]

400 ISO is what I've been using in B/W and feel quite comfortable with that.

For color I only use slide film, and I've never been comfortable with high speed color slide films (though I use ISO 400 almost exclusively for B&W). I think grain can look wonderful in B&W but looks horrible in color, and I think you lose a lot in tonality when compared to ISO 100 (or even ISO 50) slide films.

And what about the Fuji films?

They're the ones for me. Sensia 100 is a superb all-round slide film, which I use mainly when I'm in Thailand - it copes with the high contrast lighting better than some others.

And if you like really saturated colors, you might like to try Velvia 50 - it's a film I've used a lot in the UK (and a little in Thailand), but I find its high contrast is sometimes completely overwhelmed in bright contrasty conditions.

Then of course there's Kodachrome, which is arguably the best color film ever (though there's no argument from me - Kodachrome 25 is the best I've ever used), but there's almost nobody who can process it these days (and nobody at all outside of the USA, as far as I know)

 

[Roger Vadim]

For neg. Films it really depends on the Lab you are using IMO. I found that when using the Fuij Minilab guys the Fuij Pro Films gave better results than the Kodak ones.

My other lab has got the Kodak machines and I prefer the Kodak Films (400 NC - low saturated) over the Fuijs. But that could have to do with them Lab guys beeing better... 🙄

I let them scan my films, because I haven't got a decent enough scanner. If you scan for yourself it might be different.

Why don't you try it out for yourself? The Pro films of either Fuij or Kodak are both really nice (althou rather expensive). Both come in VC and NC (Fuij calls that differently), NC stands for Neutral Color, VC for Vivid Color. I like the more lowly saturated look of the 400NC esp. for portraits - very nice skin tones - although the 160NC is even smoother - in ASA160.

For really nice realistic colors: Fuij Reala: but only in ASA100😉

 

[migtex]

For Color is Fuji all the way.
The 160S or the 160C when the S is not available. Last resort the Reala or Sensia.

 

[Lord Fluff]

Then of course there's Kodachrome, which is arguably the best color film ever (though there's no argument from me - Kodachrome 25 is the best I've ever used), but there's almost nobody who can process it these days (and nobody at all outside of the USA, as far as I know)

Why so? Is it not standard E6 then? Surely a pro-lab will take it?

 

[palec]

I found old Portra 400VC grainy but usable and old 400NC quite nice. New emulsion is not yet available in Central Europe.
I don't trust lab scans anymore, Fuji 160C looked horrible when I saw the prints. The autobalance tools the machines use may work for general cases, but not for me. When I scanned the negative by myself on flatbed it finally shined.

Try yourself, that's the best advice.

 

[oscroft]

Why so? Is it not standard E6 then? Surely a pro-lab will take it?

It uses the K-14 process. Wikipedia has an article on it here.

 

[Lord Fluff]

Thanks Alan - interesting stuff

 

[arnulf]

Thank you all. Wow, a lot of answers for a newbie. What a great forum!! 🙂

Guess I'm gonna start experimenting right away..

 

[charjohncarter]

Boy, you have a smörgåsbord of films to choose from. And frankly, I think they are all very good. Here is FujiSuperiaXtra400 from Costco: $1.35 a roll and Kodak Porta 160 NC:

So many films, too many maybe, but I wouldn't say that in front of a film exec.

 

[charjohncarter]

I forgot to say welcome to RFF.

Carter

 

[gdi]

I agree with Sitemistiic - don't pass up the opportunity to go to Walmart and try the Kodak 400UC. It is really a good value and I have found it to be great film and really nice to scan. For slides, I like Astia and plain ole Ektachrome (200)...

Here is UC400:

 

[arnulf]

Carter, thanks for the welcome. I actually have tried Superia some time ago, and it really wasn't bad at all.

gdi: I guess the Ultra Color is the American version of what is called Elite Color over here. Looks really nice. Any idea as to what is supposed to be the difference between that one and the Porta films?

 

[venchka]

Well, unless they changed their minds since last spring, Wal-Mart got rid of all the Kodak Ultra 400UC film. Replaced by Fuji consumer grade film. Bummer.

I don't know what the differences are, but Kodak has updated the Portra 400NC and 400VC twice in the last 2 years. However, I expose all of Kodak's 400 speed color negative film (and BW400CN-the B&W color negative process film) at less than 400. Usually 200.

You may want to try Fuji Professional 800 speed color negative film if you want to be close to ISO 400 in color.

 

[arnulf]

Hmm, that's interesting, venchka. You mean you simply overexpose them or do you ask the lab to pull the processing down to 200? If you do the former, don't the negs get washed out?

 

[infrequent]

coincidence?

coincidence?

love the kodak sign (top right corner)!

 

[venchka]

Nope

Nope

Hmm, that's interesting, venchka. You mean you simply overexpose them or do you ask the lab to pull the processing down to 200? If you do the former, don't the negs get washed out?

Expose between 200 & 400 (I even tested at 100 and the negs. were still useable). Negs. look fine from generic mini-lab processors. C-41 film HATES underexposure. That's why I think that Fuji NPZ (Pro 800 box speed) exposed somewhere between 400 and 800 and processed normally might be your best choice for a 400 speed color neg. film.

 

[gdi]

Well, unless they changed their minds since last spring, Wal-Mart got rid of all the Kodak Ultra 400UC film. Replaced by Fuji consumer grade film. Bummer.

Venchka - the Walmarts around me still carry it in three packs for like $11.97 (I believe)

 

[venchka]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Venchka - the Walmarts around me still carry it in three packs for like $11.97 (I believe)

In east Texas they aren't selling it. I'll have to look around. We had a long lament here at RFF about this about a year ago. The disappearance of Kodak Ultra 400UC from Wal-Mart was quite widespread. What part of the country are you in? I'm down to my last 20 or so rolls. I scored two old dirty & smashed boxes of 3 rolls at Thanksgiving for $10.

 

[gdi]

In east Texas they aren't selling it. I'll have to look around. We had a long lament here at RFF about this about a year ago. The disappearance of Kodak Ultra 400UC from Wal-Mart was quite widespread. What part of the country are you in? I'm down to my last 20 or so rolls. I scored two old dirty & smashed boxes of 3 rolls at Thanksgiving for $10.

I am in Connectcut. I saw the postings last year so went to Walmart and bought out the remaining stock. Since then I have found it there consistently - so I buy a few rolls as I need it. I am pretty sure it is about 12 dollars for a 3 pack...